Luis國際資訊事務所

Language is more than just what we use to talk to each other. The way we speak expresses who we are, where our ancestors1 came from, and where we are going to in the future. Language is closely connected to culture, which means it is part of our personal identities. Even though Taiwan is merely a small island, many languages are spoken on it. Some are languages in the Chinese language family while others began right here on the island. Together, these languages and others make up the voices of Taiwan.

　　The first languages in Taiwan were the Formosan languages. These are the languages of the indigenous2 peoples of Taiwan. Initially, there were 26 Formosan languages, but many of them have become extinct. The first ones to die out were those spoken on the western plains because of foreign traders3 and explorers4. Today, some people are putting a lot of effort into saving Formosan languages before they are lost for good. The Formosan languages have great historic value. Linguists5 have discovered that the languages spoken on almost all of the Pacific islands came from Taiwan. Examples include the languages of Hawaii, Madagascar, New Zealand, and mainland6 Malaysia.

　　Hakka is one of the languages that were brought over from China. Those who speak it have ancestors who once lived in Guangdong, Jiangxi, or Fujian. Hakka people moved around a lot in history. Therefore, Hakka speakers can be found throughout the world.


語言不僅僅是我們用來互相交談的工具。我們說話的方式還表達出我們是誰、我們的祖先來自何方，以及我們未來的方向。語言和文化密不可分，這也意謂著它是我 們個人認同感的一部份。雖然台灣只是座小島，但是島上人們說著許多種語言。有些語言屬於中文語系，然而有些則發源於這座島上。這些及其它語言共同形成了台 灣之聲。

台灣最早的語言是台灣南島語言。這些是台灣原住民的語言。台灣南島語言起初有二十六種，不過大多數都已失傳。最早絕跡的語言是在西部平原所使用的話，這是 受到外來商人和探險者影響之故。如今，有些人正竭盡心力要在台灣南島語言永遠失傳前挽救它們。台灣南島語言有著重要的歷史意義。語言學家發現幾乎所有太平 洋群島上使用的語言都源於台灣。例如夏威夷、馬達加斯加、紐西蘭和馬來西亞本土等地所說的語言。

客家話是傳自中國的語言之一。說客家話的人，其祖先曾住在廣東、江西，或福建。過去客家人經常遷移。因此在世界各地都能找到說客家話的人。

1. closely　adv. 密切地，緊密地
The two murder cases are closely related.
這兩件謀殺案有著密切的關聯。
2. identity　n.（民族、個人等的）認同感
Koreans have a strong national identity.
韓國人有著強烈的國家認同感。
3. merely　adv. 僅僅，只不過
Sam won the game merely due to luck.
山姆會贏得比賽只不過是因為運氣好而已。
4. initially　adv. 起初
Initially, no one thought it was a good idea.
一開始沒人認為這是個好主意。
5. extinct　a. 滅絕的，絕種的
A lot of animals are becoming extinct.
許多動物正瀕臨絕種。

1. make up...　　形成∕構成……
Flowers made up half of the decorations.
這些擺設中有一半是花朵。
2. die out　　滅絕，絕跡
This kind of plant has already died out.
這種植物如今已不復見了。
3. for good　　永遠
Jerry is leaving his hometown for good.
傑瑞要永遠離開他的故鄉。

1. ancestor　n. 祖先
2. indigenous　a. 土生土長的
3. trader　n. 商人，生意人
4. explorer　n. 探險者
5. linguist　n. 語言學家
6. mainland　n. 本土，大陸（本文中作形容詞用）

These are the languages of the indigenous peoples of Taiwan.
（這些是台灣原住民的語言。）
　　people 在本句並不作 person 的複數形用，而是表『民族，種族』，是一可數名詞，此時 people 本身為單數，故須加 -s 以構成複數形。

Three different peoples live together in this country.
（有三個不同民族的人共同住在這個國家裡。）
Those who speak it have ancestors...
（說客家話的人，其祖先……）
those who...　　凡……者∕的人
Those who have lunch here can get a free dessert.
（凡是在這裡用午餐的人都能獲得一份免費的甜點。）